by lauren stanforth Staff writer

Published 5:57 pm, Monday, October 4, 2010

SCHENECTADY -- Mayor Brian U. Stratton wants to ease next year's tax impact on property owners by placing a street services fee on everyone -- including large nonprofits such as Ellis Hospital and Union College -- in an effort to help close a $6 million budget gap.

Stratton's proposed 2011 budget, which was presented to the City Council on Monday night, also calls for closing one of the city's four fire stations, ceasing routine maintenance on all parks and closing three of four city pools.

"There's not a whole lot of choice here beyond raising taxes through the roof," Stratton said Monday shortly before releasing his $76.9 million spending plan, which includes a 4 percent property tax increase.

Stratton said he is proposing what is called a "curb fee" based on a similar system done in Rochester for the last 30 years. John Paolino, the city's director of administration, said property owners would be assessed a fee based on their property's linear footage along city streets. The fee is meant to cover services such as snowplowing, street lighting and pavement maintenance. The mayor wants to raise $1.4 million from curb fees to drop the tax increase from 8.8 to 4 percent. But how much the fee would be how much large nonprofits would pay has not been determined. Stratton, who has unsuccessfully appealed to nonprofits in the past to pay for city services, said Monday he hadn't run the plan by them yet.

The city is hurting like many others statewide as state aid and other revenues dry up. Next year Schenectady expects to make $2.6 million less than previously expected on sales of its tax liens. The city also must pay almost $470,000 in debt service next year -- largely thanks to its new $21 million public works complex on Foster Avenue.

To cut expenses in 2011, Stratton's budget would eliminate 89 city positions, including 19 firefighters and 12 police officers. The fire cuts would mean the closure of one station. The police positions are currently vacant. But not filling them could put a federal grant, which requires the force be at full strength, in jeopardy.

Stratton has also slashed the parks maintenance staff to only a few tree trimmers. Commissioner of General Services Carl Olsen said that would essentially close the parks by not keeping the lawns or the playing fields mowed. Pool maintenance would stay, but staff for all pools except Central Park's would be cut.

City Council President Gary McCarthy, however, said the council will find a way to restore the parks and pools cuts.

"We're going to keep the parks open," he said.

McCarthy said the council will also have to work on spreading cuts around the Fire Department to avoid closing a station. Fire Chief Robert Farstad said such a move would seriously impact response times and would make the department prioritize to what extent some property could be saved. However, he said such cuts would not change the department's response when human life is at stake.

Stratton also proposed to hold back $1.5 million owed the county in unpaid property taxes, saying he can legally do it if the City Council amends the city's charter. County officials, however, have said they'll fight the city on the issue.

In other cuts, the overtime budgets of the police field services and investigation units are slashed in half, and $100,000 for emergency demolition of unsafe structures is gone.

While an executive secretary position has been cut in the mayor's office, Stratton has added $30,000 to his discretionary fund. When asked about the item, Stratton said he has to travel as part of his position on the U.S. Conference of Mayors water advisory council, but that he gets reimbursed for the expenses. However, he said he would have to investigate that line item further.

McCarthy said the council will likely meet to discuss the proposed budget Thursday. The council has until Nov. 1 to approve it.